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Hong Kong environmental issues
OpinionLetters

LettersCarbon tax no longer an option for Hong Kong but a necessity

Readers discuss how a carbon tax can help the city meet its climate targets, the impact of a sales tax, and China’s top-down science strategy

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A container ship sails through Hong Kong waters on April 2. A carbon tax is a powerful tool for pricing emissions and creating economic incentives for greener behaviour. Photo: AFP
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Hong Kong has set ambitious climate targets, aiming to cut emissions in half by 2035, compared to 2005 levels, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The Climate Action Plan 2050 outlines strategies in clean electricity, energy-efficient buildings, green transport and waste reduction. However, a key element is missing: a carbon tax. This policy is a powerful tool for pricing emissions and creating economic incentives for greener behaviour.

Countries like Singapore, Japan and Sweden offer valuable lessons. Singapore introduced a carbon tax in 2019, starting at S$5 (US$3.75) per tonne of carbon dioxide. It rose to S$25 last year, and is expected to rise to S$50-S$80 by 2030. After Japan implemented a carbon tax in 2012, the country reduced emissions by around 20 per cent between 2013 to 2022.

Sweden’s carbon tax helped reduced emissions by 26 per cent from 1990 to 2017. During the period, its economy grew by 78 per cent, according to Clean Prosperity. This proves that carbon taxes can effectively reduce emissions without harming economic growth.

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